all his princes and fervants, to fhew them the riches of his 3. To exprefs the joy and fatisfaction he hath in the 4. To exprefs his love to believers, and that he might 5. To ratify and confirm the covenant between God and Here we Lord Jefus Christ, and thou shalt be faved." 6. To be a cordial to his poor fainting ones, and for fmiles, fmiles, and speaks peace. Others are weak in grace, here he brings them fupplies; here the decayed have renewed their ftrength; here the lame have been made to leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing. 7. To fortify and encourage against all difficulties and trials we may meet with in Chrift's fervice. We are to look for reproaches and perfecutions, if we hold faft by Christ. Satan and the world will not be idle, fee Heb. x. 23. Here is a meal and cordial to hearten us for it; and fome have met with that in this feaft which hath made them chearfully venture on fufferings, and refolve never to leave Chrift. An hour of fealing animates the foul for an hour of fuffering. If the Redeemer fmile on us, and his love be fhed abroad in our hearts, we can bear any thing, fuffer any thing, lofe any thing, and not be difcouraged. O then come, and take in provifion against the evil day, for ye have a wilderness to go through. Elijah was excited to take a double meal, for his journey was long. So if you would have ftrength for your journey, O here you may have it; here is food more fubfifting, durable, and nourishing than Elijah's cake and cruise of water, of which he ate and drank, and in the ftrength of that meal went forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God, 1 Kings xix. 6. 8. What bread and wine afford to the body, the fame doth Chrift's body and blood in the facrament, received by faith, afford to the foul, viz. ftrengthening, comforting, nourishment. And who but a madman would be fo cruel to himself, as to deny his faint body its stated meals and relief? O may it not, hearten you, that whatever your ftraits, bodily wants, or neceffities are, and however ye may be despised, you have a great King that honours you, owns you, takes you to feast with himfelf here, and will fhortly call you to the marriage fupper of the Lamb above. 8. To wean you from the vain pleasures, and comforts of the world, and from fenfual delights; and to make you Jong for that glorious and full feast above. This is a foretafte of it, and fhould ftir up a hunger for it; for this feast is the firft fruits of heaven. Improvement I. I infer what a horrid calumny it is, that is raifed against the ways of Chrift by the devil and the world, that they are fad and melancholy, of purpose to fright men from them. No, you fee Chrift has royal feafts for his people, the world knows little of. A be liever would not give a crumb of this fpiritual feast for many days of worldly feafts. II. Admire his condefcenfion, that the Lord of glory fhould make fuch a feast for beggars, fee Luke xiv. 21. Poor worms, vile finners, will he call us, that deferve not a dog's crumb beneath the table, to come and fit down with the children at the table? O what are we that he fhould deal fo with us, finners vile as the mire, and black as hell. You have far greater cause to wonder at this privilege than Mephibofheth, 2 Sam. ix. 7. " David faid to him, I will furely fhew the kindnefs for Jonathan thy father's fake, and will reftore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou fhalt eat bread at my table continually." Obferve his anfwer, "What is thy fervant, that thou shouldft look upon fuch a dead dog as I am?" III. How unexcufable are they who flight this feast, that has cost Christ so dear, more than ten thousand kingdoms? He has made all things ready, and has been calling finners to come. Confider how grievously the King took it, when he made his marriage-fupper, and thofe that were bidden would not come, Luke xiv. 24 IV. Exhortation. O communicants who have been preparing for this feaft, come away to the marriage, all things are ready on Chrift's part. Object. But how fhall I get accefs to the banqueting houfe! Anfw. Employ Chrift to bring you in. It is he alone that brings his fpouse in. You may come to the table, and get the outward elements, but unless Chrift bring you in to the banqueting houfe, ye will not be taken in. It is only Chrift can give you appetites, and clothe you with the wedding garment; it is only he that can quicken the dead foul, and ftrengthen the weak, “I can do all things through Chrift ftrengthening me," faith Paul. He only can fend the Comforter, the north and fouth gales of the Spirit. He only can remove the burden of fin, and take away the heart of stone, diffolve doubts, and scatter clouds. O look and long for him then to bring you in, and fay with those in John xi. 56. "What think ye, will he come to the feaft?". Will he bring me into the banqueting houfe; will he touch my heart and take me by the hand? Poor finner, I will tell you whom he will bring in. It is true, it is not every one; many come thronging to the feaft that have no ground to expect to be taken in, But there are fome he will bring in, and VOL. III. 4 B they 6. they are thefe 1. The hungry and thirfty finner, that is longing for a meeting with Chrift, fenfible of his needs and wants, and crying, O a crumb from his hand, a drop from his wounds, a feal of pardon from that table, else I die. These have a promife to be filled. 2. The poor broken hearten humbled foul, that has a deep fense of his own nothingness and unworthinefs, faying I am not worthy that Chrift fhould come under my roof, and far lefs worthy that I fhould come under Chrift's roof, 'my fins are fo many and great. Is there any ftanding afar off with the publican, afraid to come to the holy table, faying, God be merciful to me a finner," Chrift will come to fuch, Ifa. lvii. 15. "He will revive the fpirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones." 3. The poor praying and wrestling foul, that has been putting up many a petition, figh and groan for access, faying, "O that I knew where to find him!" O when' wilt thou come unto me, how long wilt thou hide thy face? O have ye been ftorming heaven with your cries laft week, last night, and this morning? Have ye been knocking for the opening of the door of the banqueting houfe? He will come and bring fuch in. 4. All the friends and lovers of Chrift will be taken in. O finner, art thou fuch, fee thy warrant and thy welcome, Cant. vi. I. O, fay fome, I cannot be a friend to Chrift; but I wish him well, and his people and intereft. I cannot fay I'm a true lover of Chrift; but I find my heart glowing and warming with defire to him, and I would give all the world I had thefe glowings kindled into a flame. Take courage, poor foul, Chrift will not quench the fmoaking flax, he will blow it up into a flame, and take thee in. 5. All fincere covenanting fouls, that have been yefternight and this morning honeftly confenting to the bargain offered in the gospel, content to clofe with Chrift as he offers himself, to renounce their idols and lufts, and to give Chrift their hearts. Is there any foul willing to open to Chrift; O then he will take you in, Rev iii 20. "If any man open the door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and he with me." O poor finners, that never opened your hearts to Chrift, be perfuaded to open to a bountiful Lord; open your hearts to him, and he will open his banqueting houfe to you. O finner, haft thou no need of Chrift's dainties? Art thou not a poor, perishing, ftarving foul, a famished prodigal, and and needeft thou not the bread of life? Chrift is at the door with variety of bleffings, and ready to open his banqueting-houfe to you, O will ye open to him? Confider that if ye do not accept of Chrift, he may pass fuch a fentence against you, as in Luke xiv. 24. "For I fay unto you, that none of thefe men which were bidden fhall tafte of my fupper." O, will it not be dreadful to fee the faints fitting at the royal feast in heaven, and you yourselves fhut out, like a company of ftarving beggars ftanding about the doors where the marriage-fupper is kept? They fee the lights, and behold the rich dishes carried up; they hear the mirth and mufic of the guests, but not a bit comes to their share. But as for you that are content to accept of Christ on his own terms, come away to the marriage-fupper, Chrift the Mafter of the feaft invites you, and will make you welcome. And in coming to this feaft, observe the following directions. 1. Come with holy awe and reverence of God, the Master and Maker of this feaft. If ye were going to a prince's table, you would have fome awe upon your fpirits ; mind the Mafter of this feaft is a glorious, holy and jealous God, that will not be mocked. 2. Come with a pure heart and clean hands, wash your hearts in the tears of true repentance, cleanse them of all filth, through the blood of Jefus, which cleanfeth from all fin, otherwife you will affront the Mafter of this feast. Should a beggar that has been wallowing in a puddle, intrude himself in that condition into a prince's company, fit down at his table, and dip his besmeared hands into the fame difh with him, how would he take it? O come not with filthy rags and filthy hands to this holy table, but repent of every fin, renounce every fin, and refolve against every fin. 3. Come with a holy fear and jealousy over yourfelves, afraid that you be not ready. Cry, Lord, let me not wrong Chrift.or my own foul, this day! Olet me not betray the Son of God with a kifs; O let me not murder Christ or my own foul, contract blood-guiltinefs, or drink damnation. O what if I want the wedding-garment when the King comes in to view the guests! 4. Come with a broken and bleeding heart to view the flain Lamb. O will not the dying groans and bleeding wounds of Chrift move you? When you fee him ftretched 4 B 2 out |